Wire-fence stay



- {No Model.)

S. M. THOMPSONKv W. H. BULLA.

WIRE FENCE STAY.

No. 538,559. M/ 4 Patented A r. so, 1895.

II MW wl wluii 5 W/TNESSES: INVENTOHS NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SOLON M. THOMPSON, OF WHITESVILLE, AND WILLIAM H. BULLA, OF EMPIRE PRAIRIE, MISSOURI.

WI RE-FEN CE STAY.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 538,559, dated April 30, 1895.

Application filed November 16, 1894. Serial No. 528,960. (No model.)

To wZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, SoLoN M. THOMPSON, of Whitesville, and WILLIAM H. BULLA, of Empire Prairie, in the county of Andrew, State of Missouri, have invented a new and Improved Wire-Fence Stay or Brace, of which the following isv a full, clear, and exact description.

Our invention relates to improved means for the reliable staying of the strands in wire fences, at points between posts that afford the main supports for the Wire strands. a

The objects of our invention are to provide novel and simple bent wire braces, that are adapted to be removably connected with a series of fence wires between the fence posts, by upright rods, thereby affording stays at the points where the said connections are introduced, which will hold the fence wires spaced apart and stiffened to resist the encroachments of animals, and also afford ground conductors for electricity that may strike the fence and traverse one or more of the wire strands composing the fence.

To these ends our invention consists in the construction and combination of parts, as hereinafter described and indicated in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification in which similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure l is a side elevation of awire fence in part and the improvement applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view of the fence near the improved fence-stay, as indicated by the line 2 2 in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a partly-sectional plan view on the line 3 3 in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a detached side view of a locking-rod forming part of the improvement, and Fig. 5 is a detached perspective view' of the main portion of the improvement.

In the drawings, 10 indicates two planted upright posts of an ordinary wire fence, whereon the fence wires 11 are strung, stretched taut and secured at proper distances apart in the usual manner.

At any preferred point between two posts, of the wire fence the improvement is applied;

or if the parts of a fence section are widely separated, two or more of theimproved fence wire braces may be secured thereto at proper intervals. 7

The principal portion of the improved fence "wire stay consists ofa peculiarly constructed members are constructed from a single piece of heavy wire thatis long enough to produce both parts when bent to fold it near its center of length.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the stay or brace members 12, 12 are united by an integrally formed ring eye 13, forming the upper end of the brace piece when it is applied for service; and from said ring eye the nearly equal portions of the wire rod materialare extended in the same direction, about parallel with each other, and suitably spaced apart by said eye.

Nearthe ring eye 13 the brace members are bent to produce two similar staple loops 14, one on each member, said loops being opposite each other and open in the same direc tion, so that the top fence wire 11 may be entered and occupy the paired loops. Similar loops 14. are formed at a correct distance from the top pair of staple loops to receive the fence wire next below the top fence wire, and for each successive fence wire a pair of staple loops 14, is provided, which are formed on the brace members 12, 12, all opening at the same side of the fence.

On the brace members 12, 12 at a correct distance from the integral ring eye 13, other ring eyes 15 are formed, which are extended toward each other and interlocked, thereby securing the brace members together, and if desired more than one pair of interlocking ring eyes 15 may be formed at intervals in the brace members, the lower portions of the latter being secured togetherv by wrapping an end of one member 12 around the other, as shown clearly in Figs. 1 and 5.

The brace member 12*, which is longer than the member 12, has a coil 16 formed on its lower end, and the said coil is made to align its aperture with the interlocking ring eyes 15 and upper ring eye 13.

As before mentioned, if the fence panel or section is of a considerable length between the posts 10, and in consequence the fence Wires are liable to be swayed by the wind or displaced by cattle pressing against them between the posts, several of the improved brace pieces may be provided, and each one after it is placed with its loops 1.4: over the fence wires 11, is thereto secured by a locking rod 17.

The locking rod consists of a straight metal bar of a correct thickness, and may be cylindrical as shown, or of any other shape in cross section, its length being proportioned to the height of the fence, so that when inserted first in the ring eye 13, and successively through the interlocked ring eyes 15 and coil 16, it will effectually bind the fence Wires 11 in the loops of the brace piece, so as to stiffen the fence wires near the braces and prevent their easy separation from any cause.

The locking rods 17 are preferably furnished with a handle ring 17 at the end which is uppermost when they are applied to the brace pieces, and said rods have a sufficient length to permit of their being forced a proper distance into the ground, which will afford an additional support for the improved brace pieces. The rods 17 are also adapted by their engagement at their lower ends with the ground, to conduct lightning from the fence, if it is struck, and thus prevent serious injury to cattle that may be near the fence at the time it is charged with electricity due to the thunderbolt striking it.

It is claimed for the improvement that it is cheap to construct, and as effective in service as more expensive devices used for the same purpose.

Having thus described our invention, we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. A wire fence brace or stay, comprising two approximately parallel members connected together at or near their ends and having an eye at each end, each member having lateral loops to receive fence wires, and a looking rod passing through the said eyes, substantially as described.

2. A wire fence brace or stay, comprising a brace piece formed from a wire rod bent to produce two members, and a ring eye at the top of the brace piece, series of integral staple loops in said members, all open at the same side, interlocking ring eyes intermediate of the ends of the members of said brace, and a locking rod adapted to pass through the ring eyes and bind the fence wires in the staple loops, substantially as described.

3. The combination, with supported and spaced fence wires, of a brace or stay for said wires, comprising a wire rod bent to form two parallel members, provided with a ring eye at the upper end, a series of spaced staple loops formed in the brace members, to receive the fence wires, and all open at the same side, interlocking ring eyes on the brace members intermediate of their ends, a ring coil at the lower end of one of the members of the brace, and a locking rod passing through the aligned ring eyes and the ring coil, whereby the fence wires and brace are bound together, substantially as described.

SOLON M. THOMPSON. WILLIAM H. BULLA.

Witnesses:

W. A. THOMAS, M. F. MISSEMER. 

